This Is How a Designer Really Shops for Furniture, According to Shea McGee

Buying furniture can be an overwhelming process, especially if you know what you need but aren’t quite sure what you want—and the challenges only grow from there. Once you finally figure out your preferences, where do you begin?

We turned to Shea McGee, the interior design superstar behind the beloved Studio McGee, for her thoughts. As the author of The Art of Home: A Designer Guide to Creating an Elevated Yet Approachable Home, McGee is proudly focused on creating more transparency in the design world. This includes guiding customers, readers, and fans on how and where to source all their home needs.

While McGee has already kindly offered us her guidance on how to shop for home decor, we were thrilled to pick her brain with furniture sourcing in mind. Here’s what the design pro had to say.

Meet the Expert

Shea McGee is a New York Times bestselling author and the creative visionary behind Studio McGee, Inc.

Great Fabrics Can Look Expensive

If you want an elevated look but don’t have the budget to match, McGee assures us you don’t have to settle. In fact, she loves the thrill of the hunt when it comes to sourcing surprise finds from unlikely places—including the big box stores and well-priced online retailers we all know and love.

“I love the challenge of finding great pieces anywhere I go,” says McGee.

The key, she tells us, is to focus on two important elements of your piece: scale and materials. As long as the measurements of a piece work in your space, it will look like it belongs in the room. But opting for classic materials, fabrics, and finishes will create the ultimate upscale effect.

“Scale and materials go a long way to making pieces at any price point feel higher end,” McGee says.

I love the challenge of finding great pieces anywhere I go.

Have a (Lighting) Plan

Even the most expensive sofa can look low-grade under bad lighting. That’s why McGee says one thing worth considering when shopping for new furniture is your room’s current light sources. It could be that these need an upgrade, too.

But if shopping for regular furniture is overwhelming, shopping for lighting and light fixtures can be even more so. Fortunately, McGee gave us some guidance on this, too.

First tip? Measure before falling in love with something that won’t actually work in your home—because, as we’ve already learned, scale is key for creating a beautifully styled, elevated space.

“I created a lighting guide [in my book] to help you determine exactly how high to hang your fixtures as well as the sizing,” McGee says.

Know Where to Splurge and Where to Save

If you’re working within a tight budget, it can be disheartening to always fall in love with pieces that are just out of reach. McGee suggests instead making a plan on where you want to spend and save.

For example, splurging on a sofa might make sense, while you can probably save on a coffee table or end tables. The same is true for lighting.

“I prefer to invest in fixtures like pendants and chandeliers and save on accent lighting,” McGee says. “Table lamps from my Target collection are always a favorite.”

Combine Old and New Pieces

If you think of antique hunters and picture stately homes crowded with old furniture, rest assured: this does not have to be the case. In fact, McGee says she loves adding antique finds to a space as a way to complete a room with something one-of-a-kind and unique.

After designing her dream sofa with camelback detailing and brass caster feet, McGee was thrilled to add one special piece to the heart of the room.

“I sourced a coffee table made from an antique piece of cypress wood from Guatemala that adds character and depth to the center of our living room,” she says.

Add Vintage Touches

Even if you aren’t interested in buying vintage furniture, McGee says you can still use smaller finds from flea markets and antique stores that bring some personality into a room.

“I may sound like a broken record here, but shopping vintage is the best way to create a unique look,” McGee says. “Whether it’s sourcing actual vintage furniture or surrounding new pieces with vintage textiles and accessories.”

Read Next: Designers Say These 9 Home Essentials Are Worth the Splurge

Read the original article on The Spruce.